US embassy cable - 04NASSAU413

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NASSAU 000413 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
G/TIP, G, INL, DRL, PRM, IWI, WHA/PPC 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KCRM, PHUM, KWMN, SMIG, KFRD, ASEC, PREF, ELAB, BF, Human Rights 
SUBJECT: TIPS REPORT - FOURTH ANNUAL - BAHAMAS 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 07869 
     B. SECSTATE 27013 
 
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OVERVIEW 
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1.  (SBU) There is no currently-available indication of 
trafficking in persons in, from, or through The Bahamas. 
Although migrant smuggling and drug trafficking are serious 
problems for The Bahamas, no evidence is available to show 
that men, women, or children are being forced by coercion or 
fraud into domestic servitude, sexual exploitation or other 
slavery-like labor.  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the 
Ministry of Labor and Immigration know of no instances in 
which trafficking in persons has been an issue or even 
alleged.  However, these ministries were receptive to offers 
of prevention training and assistance by the United States 
Government. Post considers these sources to be highly 
credible. 
 
 
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PREVENTION 
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2.  (SBU) The Royal Bahamas Police Force, the Ministry of 
Labor and Immigration and the Attorney General's Office would 
become the responsible agencies involved if the Bahamas ever 
receives an allegation of, or information about, trafficking 
in persons.  To date, the Bahamas has not instituted an 
education campaign on this matter as there is no evidence of 
a  need.  The Government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas 
(GCOB) actively promotes womens' rights and equality of 
opportunity in both government and the private sector. 
Currently, four of sixteen cabinet ministers are women. 
Bahamian children are required to remain in school until the 
age of 16, generally do so, and are therefore less vulnerable 
to human traffickers. 
 
3.  (SBU) The financial resources of the Bahamas are limited, 
but the Bahamian government would most likely be willing to 
support a campaign to prevent or counteract human trafficking 
should it become a significant issue given its long history 
of support for human rights.  Little interaction, if any, has 
taken place between NGOs and the GCOB to date because of the 
fact that a trafficking problem has not been identified. 
 
4.  (SBU) Given the geography and lay-out of the Bahamas, 
border control is of utmost importance to the Bahamian 
Government, which looks to the United States Coast Guard to 
help the Royal Bahamas Defence Force protect its borders. 
Illegal migrants, most often from Haiti and Cuba, travel 
through the Bahamas on their way to the United States.  Many 
stop in The Bahamas and settle permanently.  While the 
government is extremely concerned with illegal migration, 
government officials make no distinction between illegal 
migration and human trafficking.  Therefore, a separate 
program for monitoring of this issue is not available.  The 
government is dedicated to stemming illegal migration and 
cooperates closely with U.S. efforts to interdict both 
migrants and narcotics passing through or to the Bahamas. 
Currently, the Bahamian government does not have a national 
plan of action to combat trafficking in persons. 
 
 
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INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF TRAFFICKERS 
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5.  (SBU) The Bahamas does not have a law specifically 
prohibiting trafficking in persons.  However, traffickers can 
be prosecuted under Title XIX of the penal code - Crimes 
Against Females, and of Kidnapping and Abduction - for 
attempts to force a woman by threats, intimidation, false 
pretenses or illegal drugs to do something against her will. 
There are also provisions against forcibly taking or 
detaining women or children.  Prison terms vary from two 
years to life in prison, depending on the crime committed. 
The penalties for rape or forcible sexual assault range from 
a minimum of seven years to a maximum of life imprisonment. 
Taken together, these laws are believed sufficient to cover 
trafficking in persons concerns should a case ever be brought 
to trial. 
 
6.  (SBU) In June 2001, the government ratified ILO 
Convention 182 Concerning the Profession and Immediate Action 
for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor.  The 
GCOB is a party to the Rights of the Child Convention, but 
not the Sale of Children Protocol.  The GCOB signed the 
Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in 
Persons, especially Women and Children, supplementing the UN 
Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime on April 9, 
2001, but has yet to ratify it. 
 
 
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PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS 
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7.  (SBU) Due to the lack of evidence of trafficking in 
persons in, or through, The Bahamas, the government does not 
provide funds to NGOs to protect or assist victims. 
Similarly, The Bahamas does not provide specialized training 
for government officials in the provision of assistance to 
trafficked victims, nor does it emphasize the issue with its 
consulates and embassies abroad.  Children are frequently 
among the illegal immigrants interdicted and sent to the 
migrant detention center pending repatriation.  Although 
there are some provisions made for their safety and special 
needs, no educational or recreational materials are provided 
for these children (many of whom are not English-speaking) on 
the assumption that their stay will be of limited duration. 
 
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NOTE 
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8.  (U) The principal drafter for this year's TIPS Report is 
Stacie M. Zerdecki.  She can be contacted at the following: 
     Tel: 242-322-1181 ext. 4510 
     Fax: 242-356-0222 
     Email: zerdeckism@state.gov 
ZAIBACK